Glyph’s Atom EX20 SSD makes a striking first impression. It’s a beautifully designed, all-black drive encased in a textured silicone jacket that feels remarkably solid in your hand. This isn’t just storage; it’s a statement piece, radiating quality and durability.
But beneath the sleek exterior lies a complex story. The Atom EX20 boasts blazing-fast 20Gbps performance, a speed that promises to revolutionize file transfers. However, unlocking that potential proved surprisingly challenging, revealing a critical flaw: the included cable simply couldn’t deliver.
Initial tests with the bundled cable were shockingly slow, barely exceeding the speeds of older technology. Reads soared, but writes crawled, creating a frustrating bottleneck. It was a perplexing issue, hinting at a deeper problem with cable quality and its impact on overall performance.
The solution, surprisingly, came from an unexpected source: a Thunderbolt cable. Completely compatible with USB, this higher-quality cable instantly unleashed the Atom EX20’s true potential, catapulting it to the top of the 20Gbps SSD leaderboard. It’s a testament to the importance of quality components, even seemingly minor ones.
Once liberated by a proper cable, the 4TB Atom EX20 delivered truly exceptional performance. It rivaled, and in some cases surpassed, even more expensive drives, showcasing its impressive speed and responsiveness. CrystalDiskMark benchmarks confirmed its dominance, with numbers that speak for themselves.
Real-world tests further solidified its position. Transferring large files felt almost instantaneous, and even demanding tasks like 450GB writes were handled with remarkable consistency. The drive’s ample cache ensured sustained performance, preventing the dreaded slowdowns that plague lesser SSDs.
However, the question remains: is this performance worth the hefty price tag? The Atom EX20 doesn’t come cheap. Prices range from $310 for 1TB to a staggering $1,500 for 8TB. These costs place it firmly in the premium category, exceeding even some 40Gbps alternatives.
That price premium is particularly difficult to justify given the substandard cable included in the box. It feels like a missed opportunity, a jarring contrast to the otherwise impeccable design and performance. A higher-quality cable should be standard, not an afterthought.
The Glyph Atom EX20 is a paradox: a stunningly capable drive hampered by a frustrating flaw. If you prioritize speed, aesthetics, and are willing to invest in a premium cable, it’s an excellent choice. But for those seeking value, exploring alternatives might be a wiser course of action.
Glyph is reportedly addressing the cable issue, a move that could significantly enhance the Atom EX20’s appeal. Until then, prospective buyers should thoroughly test their drives upon arrival, using benchmarks to verify optimal performance. The potential is there, but it requires a little extra effort to unlock.
Testing involved a meticulously configured Windows 11 system, equipped with cutting-edge components like a PCIe 4.0 Samsung 990 Pro and a Core Ultra i5 processor. Rigorous benchmarks, including CrystalDiskMark and AS SSD, were employed to assess the drive’s capabilities under various conditions.
Real-world transfer tests, utilizing both Windows Explorer and the administrator-level FastCopy utility, provided valuable insights into everyday performance. These tests simulated common user scenarios, revealing how the Atom EX20 performs in practical applications.
Each drive was meticulously prepared before testing, ensuring optimal conditions through NTFS formatting and TRIM commands. This meticulous approach guarantees accurate and reliable results, providing a comprehensive assessment of the Atom EX20’s true potential.
